Frith seeks to end PNP streak in St Andrew South East

By: Karen Madden

Image caption: Kevin Frith

If you ask diehard People’s National Party (PNP) supporters, St Andrew South Eastern is already marked as a sure win for the party. For them, the only question is the margin by which Julian Robinson will retain the seat.

Robinson, the opposition spokesman on finance, is seeking a fourth straight term, having won in 2011, 2016, and 2020. In his début, he defeated Dwight Nelson, then brushed aside Charlton Collie in 2016. By 2020, he fended off Kari Douglas, daughter of former Member of Parliament (MP) Easton Douglas.

St Andrew South East, with 22,593 electors, was created in 1967 as a parliamentary constituency. It covers two political divisions, Vineyard Town and Trafalgar. The only time the JLP held the seat was between 1980 and 1989, when Allan Issacs was elected.

BETTING BIG

However, Kevin Frith is betting big that history is about to be rewritten. A first-time candidate and real estate developer, Frith is convinced he has the golden touch to break Robinson’s stranglehold. He said that from his research, the description of the constituency being a PNP stronghold is “not accurate”.

“When I go through the constituency, there is a lot of gaps in the performance of the member of parliament. He is complacent, and the only thing that I thought he was good at was giving out birthday cards. But not even that he has mastered, as people are getting their cards after their birthday,” Frith charged.

The parliamentary hopeful, who grew up in Jones Town, St Andrew, says politics wasn’t initially on his radar. He claimed that both parties tried to recruit him after he contributed financially during last year’s local government elections.

“I realised what the PNP was putting forward lacked substance and more seemed that they wanted control, rather than a development plan if they form the government. Their plans to move the country forward did not make sense, it was just complaints about the JLP,” he said.

From then, Frith has been walking the many communities in St Andrew South East, trying to woo voters. The JLP representative said his travels have revealed a poor state of affairs in the constituency. He pointed to issues such as broken infrastructure in the Vineyard Town Division and the absence of opportunities for youth as some of the most pressing problems.

“An MP serving three terms should be ashamed,” Frith charged. “He should be welcoming me and getting ready for his exit.”

Frith has already rolled out initiatives to win over voters, including refurbishing community centres in Swallowfield and Jacques Road, and launching his ‘Jumpstart’ programme, which helps young people get their learner’s permit, driver’s licence, and eventually, a path to income.

BUILD, NOT COMPLAIN

The self-described “astute businessman since age 14” says his focus is to build, not to complain. He believes this mindset will not only deliver an upset, but also ensure that his name goes down in history.

“I have been welcomed with open arms, as it is quite clear to them that I am coming to work, rather than only come around at election time,” he said.

“As member of parliament, I will start working from the day I take the oath of office until the next election is called. I say boldly that I will be the longest-serving MP because I am there to develop the constituency. It is more than overdue,” Frith said.

If Frith fails to halt Robinson in the September 3 general election, the PNP stalwart will cement his place in history as the constituency’s first four-term MP. Before him, Easton Douglas held the seat for three terms between 1989 and 2002, followed by Maxine Henry-Wilson, who notched back-to-back wins in 2002 and 2007. The seat’s early history saw Keble Munn victorious in 1967 and 1972, before Eric Bell’s lone term in 1976.

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